Damian Lillard Blames Being Distracted By Refs For Loss To The Nuggets

BYAlexander Cole4.1K Views
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Damian Lillard
Lillard feels like he got caught up talking to the refs too much.

Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers made quick work of the Oklahoma City Thunder and last night, the team got to face off against the Denver Nuggets in Game 1 of their second-round matchup. The Blazers ultimately lost the game 121-113 and after the match, Lillard spoke about how the team's obsession with the officiating became a problem. During their series with the Thunder, Lillard and company never engaged with the refs but on Monday night, that all changed.

"I think it was a little bit more of that, probably more than we needed," Lillard said according to ESPN. "Maybe we needed to not say as much. Any time you see guys wanting it that bad, you're going to say stuff sometimes, but we might've had a little too much of that tonight."

Lillard also explained that last night's game was a bit more contentious than the team is used to when it came to referees. Officiating has been under a microscope in these playoffs and the players are starting to be vocal about it. For Lillard, he just wants to see the officials be held accountable when they make a call.

"It was a little bit of a heated game when it came to the whistle for us. We'd say something when something needed to be said," Lillard said. "Nobody got a tech, so it wasn't anything disrespectful. But when your season is on the line, you've got to be willing to challenge what's happening out there and try to put your team in the best position to win."

Lillard and the Blazers will have an opportunity to tie the series on Wednesday night in Game 2.


About The Author
Alexander Cole is the current Managing Editor of HotNewHipHop. He started at HotNewHipHop back in 2018 where he began as a Sports and Sneakers writer. During this time, he has shown an expertise in Air Jordans, Yeezys, and all things that have to do with Nike. His favorite kicks are the Air Jordan 1 High OG, the Air Jordan 4, the Air Jordan 6, and the Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 in the "Beluga 2.0" colorway. Although his collection might not be the biggest, he is always looking to add new styles to it. When it comes to sports, Alex has a particular interest in the NBA and the NFL. His favorite teams are anywhere LeBron goes, and the Kansas City Chiefs. As a Montrealer, the Montreal Canadiens hold a special place in his heart, even if they haven't won the Stanley Cup in his lifetime. Alex also works for the Concordia Stingers, where he provides play-by-play and color commentary for the football, hockey, and basketball teams His favorite hip-hop artists are Kendrick Lamar, Playboi Carti, Travis Scott, and Lil Uzi Vert.
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